Facing a moral dilemma--introducing a dental care insurance within the public dental service.

Through the reform entitled "Dental care insurance-dental care at a fixed price", patients are offered a dental insurance, a capitation plan, that ensures that they can visit the dentist regularly during a period of three years at a fixed price per month (Frisktandvård).This insurance may be offered to all patients. The aim of this study was to generate a theory explaining the main concern for the staff at the public dental service when they have to introduce and advocate dental care insurance to patients.

'Making dental care possible: a mutual affair': a grounded theory relating to adult patients with dental fear and regular dental treatment.

Dental fear is a common and widespread problem, which can cause severe stress. Even so, most patients with dental fear undergo regular dental treatment in spite of their fear and many enjoy good oral health. The aim of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of how patients with dental fear manage to undergo dental treatment.

Health care professionals meeting with individuals with Type 2 diabetes and obesity: Balancing coaching and caution.

The burden of diabetes and obesity is increasing worldwide, indicating a need to find the best standard for diabetes care. The aim of this study was to generate a theory grounded in empirical data derived from a deeper understanding of health care professionals' main concerns when they consult with individuals with diabetes and obesity and how they handle these concerns. Tape-recorded interviews were conducted with seven groups and three individual members of a diabetes team in an area of western Sweden.

Minimizing the dysfunctional interplay between activity and recovery: A grounded theory on living with fibromyalgia.

The aim of this study was to generate a substantive theory, based on interviews with women with fibromyalgia, explaining how they manage their main concerns in daily life. The study has an inductive approach in line with classic grounded theory (Glaser, 1992). Twenty-three women living in the southwest region of Sweden were interviewed in-depth about their daily living with fibromyalgia and problems related to this.

Hunting for health, well-being, and quality of life.

Health, well-being, quality of life, and lifestyle are central concepts within health science, although generally accepted definitions are still lacking. Lifestyle can either be seen as an independent variable and the cause of unhealthy behaviour or as a dependent variable, which is affected by conditions in the society. In the first case, the attention is directed on each individual case: maintaining or improving health requires changes in lifestyle and living habits.

Calibrating and adjusting expectations in life: A grounded theory on how elderly persons with somatic health problems maintain control and balance in life and optimize well-being.

Aim: This study aims at exploring the main concern for elderly individuals with somatic health problems and what they do to manage this.

Method: In total, 14 individuals (mean=74.2 years; range=68-86 years) of both gender including hospitalized and outpatient persons participated in the study.

'Feelings of guilt due to self-inflicted disease': a grounded theory of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The aim of this grounded theory study was to illuminate the main concern of people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how they handle their everyday life. Data were collected through interviews with 23 people with COPD at different stages, from mild to severe. A substantive theory was generated showing that the main concern was feelings of guilt due to self-inflicted disease associated with smoking habits.

A qualitative study of the influence of poor dental aesthetics on the lives of young adults.

Objective: Although many countries offer some publicly funded orthodontic treatment for children, not all conditions receive treatment and some adolescents enter adulthood with persisting poor dental aesthetics or malocclusions. The aim of this study was to generate a theory highlighting the main concerns of young adults, either native-born or of immigrant background, with poor dental aesthetics and the measures they adopt to manage their condition in everyday life.

Material And Methods: A qualitative method, classic grounded theory, was applied in order to generate a substantive theory highlighting the main concerns and managing mechanisms of 13 strategically selected 19- and 20-year-olds with poor dental aesthetics.

Allowing for the opposite: the parents of asthmatic children cooperate by making use of each other's differences.

This article focuses on one of the interactive processes that parents use to cope with their child's asthma. The concept allowing for the opposite was developed in the course of a clinical project designed to improve consultation methods in pediatric allergy care. We examined material from 67 conversations carried out with 22 heterosexual couples held with two family therapists: one male pediatrician and one female social worker.

Use of perioperative dialogues with children undergoing day surgery.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to explore what it means for children to attend hospital for day surgery.

Background: Hospitalization is a major stressor for children. Fear of separation, unfamiliar routines, anaesthetic/operation expectations/experiences and pain and needles are sources of children's negative reactions.

Self-reported hearing difficulties, communication strategies and psychological general well-being (quality of life) in patients with acquired hearing impairment.

Purpose: The aims were to (i) translate the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (AIADH) into Swedish and evalute its usefulness, (ii) describe hearing difficulties and psychological well-being (quality of life) and (iii) explore variables related to psychological well-being in a Swedish population.

Method: Seventy-nine consecutive patients, referred to the hearing clinic for hearing examination and audiological rehabilitation, formed the study sample. Along with pure-tone audiometry, the AIADH, the Psychological General Well-being index and the Communication Strategies Scale were used.

Swedish women's experiences of seeking care and being admitted during the latent phase of labour: a grounded theory study.

Objective: to gain a deeper understanding of how women who seek care at an early stage experience the latent phase of labour.

Design: a qualitative interview study using the grounded theory approach.

Setting: the study was conducted at a hospital in the southwestern part of Sweden with a range of 1600-1700 deliveries per year.

Psychometric evaluation of a Norwegian version of the Communication Strategies Scale of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired.

Aim: To evaluate the Communication Strategies Scale (CSS) in an adult Norwegian sample with hearing loss.

Subjects And Methods: Of 474 invited patients, a total of 337 consecutive adults admitted to the outpatient Unit of Audiology, ENT Department of a university hospital answered the CSS of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired. The inventory assesses the use of three specific coping strategies; Maladaptive Behaviour, Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Strategies.

The origin of workplace bullying: experiences from the perspective of bully victims in the public service sector.

Background: Workplace bullying has attracted increased attention during the last decade due to its severe consequences on health. However, the origin of bullying has, so far, been insufficiently described.

Aim: This study investigates the manner in which bullying is initiated at workplaces in the public service sector.

Patients' experiences of daily living with a pacemaker: a grounded theory study.

The purpose of this study was to examine patients' experiences of daily living with a pacemaker. A total of 13 pacemaker patients (seven women) aged 22-82 (mean = 59.2) years were interviewed.

Psychological well-being of adults with acquired hearing impairment.

Aim: To study psychological well-being (health-related quality of life) in a population of adults 20 years and over with hearing impairment (HI) and its relation to audiological factors, consequences of the HI, sense of humour, and use of communication strategies.

Subjects And Methods: Consecutive adults (n = 343) at the outpatient Unit of Audiology of a Norwegian university hospital answered the Psychological General Well-being inventory (PGWB), Hearing Disability and Handicap Scale (HDHS), Sense of Humour Questionnaire-6 (SHQ-6), and Communication Strategies Scale (CSS) in relation to an audiological examination and medical consultation.

Results: Mean PGWB index for the whole sample was 81.

Activity limitation and participation restriction in adults seeking hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation.

Purposes: We first aimed to describe demographic and audiological characteristics of adults referred to a university hospital for hearing aid (HA) fitting and rehabilitation. Our second aim was to employ an inventory that assesses life consequences of hearing impairment (HI) in terms of perceived activity limitation and participation restriction for the first time in a Norwegian adult outpatient population. A third aim was to study life consequences by audiological and demographic characteristics.

Readjustment 5 months after a first-time myocardial infarction: reorienting the active self.

Aim: This paper reports on an interview study exploring the self-regulation process in women and men, 5 months after a first-time myocardial infarction.

Background: Somatic, psychological and social factors affect readjustment after a first-time myocardial infarction, and studies have demonstrated substantial rates of depression in patients after myocardial infarction Women report poorer mental health and physical condition than do men. Reconstruction of the self begins when disease poses novel problems and is more likely to occur in cases of long-lasting and disruptive illnesses.

Stress and well-being among parents of children with rare diseases: a prospective intervention study.

Aim: This paper reports a study to assess stress, well-being and supportive resources experienced by mothers and fathers of children with rare disabilities, and how these variables were affected by an intensive family competence intervention.

Background: Despite diagnosis-specific studies, little overall knowledge exists about life-consequences for families of children with rare disorders.

Method: We used a prospective design with baseline data and two follow-ups (at 6 and 12 months) after an intervention.

Influence of the ice-hockey environment on taking up snuff: an interview study among young males.

In Sweden, snuff-use is an established and accepted phenomenon in society, especially in connection with certain sports. The aim of this qualitative study was to analyze and describe the psychosocial environment influencing young male ice-hockey players into starting to use snuff. The study sample comprised 16 male participants between 15 and 32 years of age strategically selected for being active or having been active as ice-hockey players--snuff-users and non-users alike.

Daily living with hyperacusis due to head injury 1 year after a treatment programme at the hearing clinic.

The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the quality of daily living of persons with hyperacusis after a traumatic head injury 1 year after these persons had participated in a treatment programme at a Swedish hearing clinic. The study group consisted of 21 patients with a mean age of 36 years. In-depth interviews, conducted 1 year after the treatment programme, were analysed using the grounded theory method.

Restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): experiences from the patients' perspective.

Background: PCI has been established as an effective treatment for coronary artery disease. Restenosis is a recurrence of a significant narrowing in the treated vessel. Although a part of the investigative and research funding is invested in the prevention and resolving the restenosis problem, little is known about its clinical significance apart from further revascularisation.

Assessing the quality of the dyadic relationship in first-time parents: development of a new instrument.

The purpose of this research was to psychometrically evaluate the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), modified for use with new, first-time parents by extending the items of communication, sensuality, and sexuality. A total of 820 Swedish respondents, 6 months after the birth of their first child, participated in the study. Psychometric evaluation was conducted with factor analysis.

Quality of intimate and sexual relationship in first-time parents six months after delivery.

This study aimed to describe the quality of the intimate relationship among parents six months after the birth of their first child. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) has been modified and used on 820 responding first-time parents, of which 768 were couples. The results reveal that most parents were happy in their relationship, but both mothers and fathers were discontented with the dyadic sexuality.